Hatchet attachment for hammers



Jan. 18, 1966 J. R. FINDLEY 3,229,737

HATCHET ATTACHMENT FOR HAMMERS Filed July 8, 1964 Fig./

Jack R- F ind/ey INVENTOR.

BY Zz;

United States Patent 3,229,737 HATCI-IET ATTACHMENT FUR HAMMERS Jack R. Findley, 4442 Johanna St., Lakewood, (Zalif. Filed July 8, 1964, Ser. No. 381,052 3 Claims. (c1. 14s 3 The present invention relates to a multipurpose hand tool which is characterized, on the one hand, by a conventional type carpenters claw hammer and, on the other hand, by a readily applicable and removable conversiontype attachment which when applied to the claws of the hammer functions to transform the hammer into an impact cutter, more specifically, a hatchet.

Cutter blades for use on claw hammers are old and well known and are classified, generally speaking, as hand tools in which at least one tool is a cutter and at least one a hammer. It follows that it is a significant objective in the instant matter to make no modifications or alterations whatsoever in the claw end of the hammer head whereby to permit the hammer to be employed as usual, that is, when the attachment is not in use and to provide an impact attachment which is simple, practical and safe to handle and use and which lends itself to reliable use when it is applied for that purpose.

The attachment is structurally patterned to promote the intended functions and to do so without a bitch and minus the fear that, simply because the cutting blade is readily applicable and removable, it will accidentally loosen itself and fly off the hammer head in an unpredictable and dangerous manner.

Briefly the over-all invention has to do with a conventional type carpenters claw hammer which is in no manner altered in order to accommodate the applicable and removable conversion attachment and which accordingly has a head embodying a poll at one end of the head and claws at the other end, said claws serving to facilitate the step of applying the rigid elongated attachment blade. This blade is such in construction that it is superimposed upon the top surfaces of the claws and has an end portion which is provided with a cutting edge which functions to transform and convert the hammer to an impact cutting tool or so called hatchet. The blade is provided on its claw contacting surface with an elongated blade attaching and retaining rib which is specially shaped, constitutes a unique wedge and is friction-wedged and reliably retained between the inner opposed peripheral edges of the hammers claws.

The blade has a spring clip at one end which facilitates positioning and temporarily holding the blade primarily at the time it is placed atop the claws. The rib is not only wedge-shaped to achieve the retention result desired, one end thereof is curvate and spaced from the blade to provide a piloting finger whereby to assist in applying the blade so that the wedging rib is lodged in the crotch between the converging edges of the claws.

Novelty is also predicated on the attachment by itself in that it is characterized by a generally rectangular steel plate or blade having a beveled transverse end fashioned into a cutting edge and provided at its opposite transverse end with a suitably anchored applicator clip. The median portion between the clip and blade is provided with the rib whereby to provide a simple and expedient adaptation which lends itself to manufacture from a die method, drop hammer procedure or making of the parts independently and either welding or riveting them together in cooperative relationship.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation of a conventional carpenters claw hammer with the improved blade or hatchet attachment in position and readied for use;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the tool shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section and elevation taken on the plane of the section line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section on the section line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a view in perspective of the attachment by itself looking at the side which is attachable to the claws of the hammer.

With reference first to FIGURES l and 2 the conventional hamer head is denoted by the numeral 6 and embodies the usual socket portion 7 for the handle 8, the customary neck 9 carrying a poll 10 and with the opposite end portion fashioned into customary curvate furcations or claws 11. The converging edges 12 (FIG. 2) provide the usual V-shaped crotch 13 with which the attachment 14 is particularly associated.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the hammer is of conventional construction and that no alterations are necessary.

The attachment 14 comprises a substantially rectangular plate or blade which is slightly bowed to conform to the curvature of the claws 11. The underneath side is smooth and denoted by the numeral 16, the slightly convexed top side is denoted at 18 and the longitudinal edge portions by the numeral 21 these being the same in construction. The transverse edge 22 is provided on its median underneath portion with a recess which is undercut, said recess being denoted at 24 and serving to accommodate the body portion 26 of a clip. The free end of the clip is laterally flared as at 28 and its purpose is to facilitate holding the attachment in place when it is first installed. Without this temporary retaining means the blade might, under certain circumstances with gloves on or cold hands, become displaced. The opposite transverse end of the plate or blade is beveled to provide a suitable cutting edge 30. The blade is sufficiently wide that the edge portions 20 overhang the outer marginal edges of the claws. This extra width is needed to provide shoulders as at 32 which come in handy when it is desired to remove the blade. This is to say by simply striking one of the corners against a stationary surface it is an easy matter to back out the attaching and retaining rib 34. This rib is wedge-shaped and stout and firm as at 36 and is welded or otherwise fixed in place along one lengthwise edge as at 38. The leading end of the rib is rounded as at 40 and a tip portion 42 is curved so as to space one surface 44 from the side or surface 16 of the blade and to thus provide a satisfactory blade positioning and piloting element.

It will be evident that the tempered steel plate or blade 14 provides an ideal and reliable hatchet attachment for a conventional claw hammer. The attachment is small and easy to apply and remove and as a matter of fact it can be carried around by the carpenter or mechanic in his overalls pocket. It does not interfere with the use of the poll at the hammering end of the hammer head and yet constitutes simple means to transform the claw end into an adze or hatchet. The wedge-shaped form and locale of the adapter and attaching rib permits the user to readily apply and remove the attachment. The spring clip 28 at the end 22 comes in handy in taking care of the initial step of applying the attachment. That is to say, the spring action holds the cutting blade on the hammer until driving contact of the cutting edge 30 is made with the work surface. The wedge-shaped cross-section and longitudinal dimension of the rib 34 renders the latter practical for use between the converging edges 12 of the claws 11. The offset piloting tip (features 40, 42 and 44) assists in guiding the retaining rib into the crotch portion between the claws of the hammer.

Assuming that the hatchet blade is in the position shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and it is desired to back the wedge out of the crotch and release the blade this can be done by striking a tool (not shown) against the edge 22. On the other hand one can easily accomplish this step by simply striking one of the corners 32 against a relatively stationary surface utilizing a blow which is sufiicient to free the retaining rib or key 34 from its position between the claws 11. Experimental use over a relatively short time will enable almost anyone who is familiar with tools to do the job that has to be done without confusion or difficulty.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use on a carpenters claw hammer embodying a handle-equipped head having a poll at one end and curved claws at the other end, a hatchet attachment for said hammer comprising: a rigid elongated blade rectangu lar in plan and of a length and curvature conformable to the lengthwise curvature of the aforementioned claws and,

in fact, of a length greater than the length of said claws, said blade being of a width that the longitudinal edge portions project well beyond and overhang outer longitudinal edge portions of said claws, said blade having an outwardly disposed transverse marginal edge portion beveled and fashioned into and providing a cutting edge, the inner transverse marginal edge portion provided with an integral spring clip adapted to ride upon and contact an intended surface portion of the hammers head to facilitate the step of initially placing the blade in a ready-to-use position atop coacting surfaces of the claws, said blade being provided on its claw contacting surface with a blade attaching and retaining rib, said rib being elongated and wedge-like in shape, a major portion of said rib being integral with a coacting median part of the underneath surface of the blade substantially midway between the longitudinal edge portions of the blade, one end portion of said rib being longitudinally curved and gradually reduced in cross-section from the integrated portion to the tip of the free end and said tip being rounded and blunt.

2. A hatchet attachment for the claws on the claw-end of a carpenters hammer comprising a longitudinally bowed rigid steel blade substantially rectangular in plan and having longitudinal edges and intervening transverse edges, one transverse edge being beveled and providing a cutting edge, the other transverse edge being provided midway between the longitudinal edges of said plate with an integral laterally deflected resilient plate-positioning and temperorary retaining clip, and means fixed lengthwise to a median longitudinal portion of the underneath side of said first-named transverse edge of said blade and adapted to be forcibly and frictionally fitted between the inner opposed edges of the hammers claws when in use, said means comprising a rigid guiding and retaining rib wedge-shaped in cross-section and having a longitudinal edge portion of an outward end portion fixed to cooperating surface of said blade and having an inward end portion spaced and deflected away from said underneath side and constituting a blade piloting element, said element having a blunt tip at the terminal portion thereof.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 and wherein the integrally attached outer end portion of said rib is spaced from and central to a median portion of said cutting edge, said rib being in cooperative alignment with the fixed position of said clip and the blunt ended tip portion being spaced from but oriented and accordingly coordinated with said clip to achieve the desired position of said blade, and the respective corner portions of said blade to the left and right of said clip being rounded and completely overhanging the respectively cooperating claw portions to facilitate loosening, dislodging and. bodily detaching said blade.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,245,394 11/1917 Smith et a1.

1,359,339 11/1920 Darling.

1,439,572 12/ 1922 Milliken.

1,620,923 3/ 1927 Shaver 78.l 2,327,682 8/ 1943 Van Slyke -3 X WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

R. V. PARKER, IR., Assistant Examiner. 

1. FOR USE ON A CARPENTER''S EMBODYING A HANDLE EQUIPPED HEAD HAVING A POLL AT ONE END AND CURVED CLAWS AT THE OTHER END, A HATCHET ATTACHED FOR SAID HAMMER COMPRISING: A RIGID ELONGATED BLADE RECTANGULAR IN PLAN AND OF A LENGTH AND CURVATURE CONFORMABLE TO THE LENGTHWISE CURVATURE OF THE AFOREMENTIONED CLAWS AND, IN FACT, OF A LENGTH GREATER THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID CLAWS, SAID BLADE BEING OF A WIDTH THAT THE LONGITUDNAL EDGE PORTIONS PROJECT WELL BEYOND AND OVERHANG OUTER LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID CLAWS, SAID BLADE HAVING AN OUTWARDLY DISPOSED TRAVERSE MARGINAL EDGE PORTION BEVELED AND FASHIONED INTO AND PROVIDING A CUTTING EDGE, THE INNER TRANSVERSE MARGINGAL EDGE PORTION PROVIDED WITH AN INTEGRAL SPRING CLIP ADAPTED TO RIDE UPON AND CONTACT AN INTENDED SURFACE PORTION OF THE HAMMER''S HEAD TO FACILITATE THE STEP IN INITIALLY PLACING THE BLADE IN A READY-TO USE POSITION ATOP COACTING SURFACES OF THE CLAWS, SAID BLADE BEING PROVIDED ON IT CLAW CONTACTING SURFACE WITH A BLADE ATTACHING AND RETAINING RIB, SAID RIB BEING ELONGATED AND WEDGE-LIKE IN SHAPE, A MAJOR PORTION OF SAID RIB BEING INTEGRAL WITH A COACTING MEDIAN PART OF THE UNDERNEATH SURFACE OF THE BLADE SUBSTANTIALLY MIDWAY BETWEEN THE LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTIONS OF THE BLADE, ONE END PORTION OF SAID RIB BEING LONGITUDINALLY CURVED AND GRADUALLY REDUCED IN CROSS-SECTION FROM THE INTEGRATED PORTION TO THE TIP OF THE FREE END AND SAID TIP BEING ROUNDED AND BLUNT. 